Office HoursErskine: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Bagley: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 6:00pm(coming soon)

Company Telephone Numbers

Service Center 24/7/365800-448-8260, 218-687-5251, or888-879-4968 (GV Long Distance)

Business Office or Service Requests218-687-5251 | 800-448-8260

Radio Shack Sales Center218-687-3233

Gopher State One-Call800-252-1166 811 (call toll-free before digging)

GV InternetEmail: helpdesk@gvtel.comWebsite: www.gvtel.com

Internet Support 24/7/365877-546-7495

Internet Remote Supportsupport.gvtel.comMonday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Live Chat (with a Service Representative)www.gvtel.com

Board of DirectorsJerry Freitag, President | Plummer

Byron Ness, Vice President | Fertile

Arlene Novak, Secretary | St. Hilaire

James Ferden, Treasurer | McIntosh

Ronald Engelstad, Director | Grygla

Vernon Hamnes, Director | Gonvick

Lee Hoaas, Director | Erskine

Casey Holland, Director | Fosston

Allen Paulson, Director | Shevlin

Published by Garden Valley Telephone Company

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

VOICEValley

Garden ValleyYour Technology Leader

201 Ross Avenue | PO Box 259Erskine, MN 56535

VOICE of th

e

Valley

Border-to-Border GroundbreakingBagley Store Opening Soon Annual NoticeDirectory Cover Winner

THIS ISSUE:

News & EventsHoliday Office ClosingGV business offices will be closed November 23 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Save-The-Date Garden Valley Appreciation Day in Erskine, Saturday, December 28:30am - 2:30pm Watch for the Grand Prize Coupon in your bill.

Website CompassVisit this valuable resource on our website to find Internet related info, tips, trends, and more at www.gvtel.com/internet

Sale of Items GV’s sale of used vehicles and misc. items will be posted in area newspapers this fall. Items can be viewed November 6 thru November 15. Bids must be submitted by noon on the 15th.

Rural TRF Border-to-Border Groundbreaking EventGarden Valley held a groundbreaking event to celebrate the beginning of the work on the Minnesota Broadband Grant Program project in rural Thief River Falls. Construction on this $4.2 million dollar project began in late June on the main line fiber optic cable with service installation to the homes beginning in early 2018.

The border-to-border broadband grant project for rural Thief River Falls will offer access to local phone service, Internet speeds up to 1 Gigabit, and digital video services to almost 400 unserved households and businesses. A map of the project area can be found on Garden Valley’s website at www.gvtel.com.

Those who attended the event listened to several special speakers, including

Representative Deb Kiel, Senator Mark Johnson, Danna MacKenzie from the Office of Broadband, and Andy Martin, a representative for Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Tim Brinkman, CEO/General Manager for Garden Valley Telephone Company, thanked the Office of Broadband for helping Garden Valley service the unserved residents of rural Thief River Falls. He also thanked legislators for their support.

Garden Valley is excited to be included as one of the projects receiving a grant to service the residents of rural Thief River Falls. This fiber to the home project is just another example of how Garden Valley and its employees are dedicated to providing you, our customers, with reliable service.

Garden ValleyYour Technology LeaderOctober 2017 | Volume 67 | No. 5

of th

e

This offer is available to new or existing subscribers who activate the Simple Shared Plans with an eligible 4G device and sign up with the EXTRA Device Installment Program at the promotional rate per month for 12 months and another 12 months at the current device rate per month.

Certain restrictions apply. Limited time offer. Call for details.

Smartphones Starting at

GV Cellular is of feringUNLIMITED DATA!

Sign up today!

$499 for the first 12 months

/ m o

Groundbreaking Ceremony: (left to right) Senator Mark Johnson, GV Director Ron Engelstad, Representative Deb Kiel, Minnesota Telecom Alliance President/CEO Brent Christensen, GV Board President Jerry Freitag, CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman, Danna MacKenzie of the Minnesota Office of Broadband, and Andy Martin, representing Senator Amy Klobuchar.

You may be eligible for assistance in paying your telephone bill if you receive benefits from certain low-income assistance programs. For more information or an application form, call toll free 888-830-6393. (Note: This information is subject to change without advance notice.)

Minnesota’s Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) offers a monthly credit of $3.50 on your landline telephone service plan. You may receive the TAP credit on one landline per household.

The federal Lifeline Program offers a monthly discount of $9.25 on some landline telephone service plans. Lifeline also offers discounts on some wireless telephone service plans and some broadband Internet service plans. You may receive the Lifeline discount on one telephone service per household.

The federal Lifeline Program incorporates the broadband discount (not applicable to TAP).

If you live on Tribal lands, you may qualify for additional discounts. Tribal Lands Link-Up offers a one-time credit of up to $100 on installation or activation charges. Tribal Lands Lifeline offers a monthly credit of up to $34.25 on your landline or wireless telephone service plan.

The telephone or broadband service must be in your name. You must show proof that you or a member of your household participates in at least one of the following programs or is income eligible:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance• Food Support/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)• Medicaid/Medical Assistance• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)• Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension Benefit• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance and living on Tribal lands• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and living on Tribal lands• Tribally Administered Head Start (for those meeting income-qualifying standards) and living on Tribal lands• Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF) and living on Tribal lands

If you do not participate in any of the programs listed above, you may qualify if your income is at or below 135% of the 2017 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines: (The federal poverty guidelines are typically updated at the end of January.)

Household Size Income

1 $16,281

2 $21,924

3 $27,567

4 $32,210

5 $38,853

6 $44,496

7 $50,139

8 $55,782

For each additional person, add $5,643

For more information and to request an application, call toll free 888-830-6393.

Adaptive Telephone Equipment Available to Eligible MembersThe Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program provides telephone equipment to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or have a physical disability and need adaptive equipment in order to use the phone. The equipment is loaned out at no cost as a long-term loan. Available equipment includes captioned phones, light flashing ring signalers, TTYs, amplified telephones, loud ringers, hands-free speakerphones and more. Minnesotans eligible for the Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program can get a variety of equipment at no charge through statewide regional offices. The office serving our area is in Moorhead, Minnesota.

For more information or to request an application, call Garden Valley Telephone Company at 800-448-8260; e-mail dhhs.moorhead@state.mn.us; or call the TED Specialist at 800-456-7589 or TTY 866-488-3829.

Toll Limitation ServiceToll Limitation Service support allows eligible consumers who wish to avoid incurring large long distance fees to choose toll blocking at no cost.

Annual Notice to Residential CustomersTelephone Assistance Programs

Office HoursErskine: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Bagley: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 6:00pm(coming soon)

Company Telephone Numbers

Service Center 24/7/365800-448-8260, 218-687-5251, or888-879-4968 (GV Long Distance)

Business Office or Service Requests218-687-5251 | 800-448-8260

Radio Shack Sales Center218-687-3233

Gopher State One-Call800-252-1166 811 (call toll-free before digging)

GV InternetEmail: helpdesk@gvtel.comWebsite: www.gvtel.com

Internet Support 24/7/365877-546-7495

Internet Remote Supportsupport.gvtel.comMonday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Live Chat (with a Service Representative)www.gvtel.com

Board of DirectorsJerry Freitag, President | Plummer

Byron Ness, Vice President | Fertile

Arlene Novak, Secretary | St. Hilaire

James Ferden, Treasurer | McIntosh

Ronald Engelstad, Director | Grygla

Vernon Hamnes, Director | Gonvick

Lee Hoaas, Director | Erskine

Casey Holland, Director | Fosston

Allen Paulson, Director | Shevlin

Published by Garden Valley Telephone Company

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

VOICEValley

Garden ValleyYour Technology Leader

201 Ross Avenue | PO Box 259Erskine, MN 56535

VOICE of th

e

Valley

Border-to-Border GroundbreakingBagley Store Opening Soon Annual NoticeDirectory Cover Winner

THIS ISSUE:

News & EventsHoliday Office ClosingGV business offices will be closed November 23 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Save-The-Date Garden Valley Appreciation Day in Erskine, Saturday, December 28:30am - 2:30pm Watch for the Grand Prize Coupon in your bill.

Website CompassVisit this valuable resource on our website to find Internet related info, tips, trends, and more at www.gvtel.com/internet

Sale of Items GV’s sale of used vehicles and misc. items will be posted in area newspapers this fall. Items can be viewed November 6 thru November 15. Bids must be submitted by noon on the 15th.

Rural TRF Border-to-Border Groundbreaking EventGarden Valley held a groundbreaking event to celebrate the beginning of the work on the Minnesota Broadband Grant Program project in rural Thief River Falls. Construction on this $4.2 million dollar project began in late June on the main line fiber optic cable with service installation to the homes beginning in early 2018.

The border-to-border broadband grant project for rural Thief River Falls will offer access to local phone service, Internet speeds up to 1 Gigabit, and digital video services to almost 400 unserved households and businesses. A map of the project area can be found on Garden Valley’s website at www.gvtel.com.

Those who attended the event listened to several special speakers, including

Representative Deb Kiel, Senator Mark Johnson, Danna MacKenzie from the Office of Broadband, and Andy Martin, a representative for Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Tim Brinkman, CEO/General Manager for Garden Valley Telephone Company, thanked the Office of Broadband for helping Garden Valley service the unserved residents of rural Thief River Falls. He also thanked legislators for their support.

Garden Valley is excited to be included as one of the projects receiving a grant to service the residents of rural Thief River Falls. This fiber to the home project is just another example of how Garden Valley and its employees are dedicated to providing you, our customers, with reliable service.

Garden ValleyYour Technology LeaderOctober 2017 | Volume 67 | No. 5

of th

e

This offer is available to new or existing subscribers who activate the Simple Shared Plans with an eligible 4G device and sign up with the EXTRA Device Installment Program at the promotional rate per month for 12 months and another 12 months at the current device rate per month.

Certain restrictions apply. Limited time offer. Call for details.

Smartphones Starting at

GV Cellular is of feringUNLIMITED DATA!

Sign up today!

$499 for the first 12 months

/ m o

Groundbreaking Ceremony: (left to right) Senator Mark Johnson, GV Director Ron Engelstad, Representative Deb Kiel, Minnesota Telecom Alliance President/CEO Brent Christensen, GV Board President Jerry Freitag, CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman, Danna MacKenzie of the Minnesota Office of Broadband, and Andy Martin, representing Senator Amy Klobuchar.

You may be eligible for assistance in paying your telephone bill if you receive benefits from certain low-income assistance programs. For more information or an application form, call toll free 888-830-6393. (Note: This information is subject to change without advance notice.)

Minnesota’s Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) offers a monthly credit of $3.50 on your landline telephone service plan. You may receive the TAP credit on one landline per household.

The federal Lifeline Program offers a monthly discount of $9.25 on some landline telephone service plans. Lifeline also offers discounts on some wireless telephone service plans and some broadband Internet service plans. You may receive the Lifeline discount on one telephone service per household.

The federal Lifeline Program incorporates the broadband discount (not applicable to TAP).

If you live on Tribal lands, you may qualify for additional discounts. Tribal Lands Link-Up offers a one-time credit of up to $100 on installation or activation charges. Tribal Lands Lifeline offers a monthly credit of up to $34.25 on your landline or wireless telephone service plan.

The telephone or broadband service must be in your name. You must show proof that you or a member of your household participates in at least one of the following programs or is income eligible:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance• Food Support/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)• Medicaid/Medical Assistance• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)• Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension Benefit• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance and living on Tribal lands• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and living on Tribal lands• Tribally Administered Head Start (for those meeting income-qualifying standards) and living on Tribal lands• Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF) and living on Tribal lands

If you do not participate in any of the programs listed above, you may qualify if your income is at or below 135% of the 2017 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines: (The federal poverty guidelines are typically updated at the end of January.)

Household Size Income

1 $16,281

2 $21,924

3 $27,567

4 $32,210

5 $38,853

6 $44,496

7 $50,139

8 $55,782

For each additional person, add $5,643

For more information and to request an application, call toll free 888-830-6393.

Adaptive Telephone Equipment Available to Eligible MembersThe Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program provides telephone equipment to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or have a physical disability and need adaptive equipment in order to use the phone. The equipment is loaned out at no cost as a long-term loan. Available equipment includes captioned phones, light flashing ring signalers, TTYs, amplified telephones, loud ringers, hands-free speakerphones and more. Minnesotans eligible for the Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program can get a variety of equipment at no charge through statewide regional offices. The office serving our area is in Moorhead, Minnesota.

For more information or to request an application, call Garden Valley Telephone Company at 800-448-8260; e-mail dhhs.moorhead@state.mn.us; or call the TED Specialist at 800-456-7589 or TTY 866-488-3829.

Toll Limitation ServiceToll Limitation Service support allows eligible consumers who wish to avoid incurring large long distance fees to choose toll blocking at no cost.

Annual Notice to Residential CustomersTelephone Assistance Programs

Billing InformationUniversal Service ChargeThe Federal Universal Service Fund Charge (FUSC) increased in October from $1.62 to $1.79 per line for most residential and single-line business customers and from $2.09 to $2.29 per access line for most multi-line business customers.

The new FUSC amount for cellular service is calculated by multiplying the FUSC factor against your cellular plan charges. Effective in October, that FUSC factor will increase from 6.3441% to 6.9748%.

Directory Assistance Credit If we are informed that you received incorrect Directory Assistance information for which a fee was charged, we will issue an immediate credit to your account. In order to receive credit:

• You must call the same dialing pattern when requesting credit.

Example: If you dialed 411 for your Directory Assistance, you must dial that same number to request the credit. This will ensure that the proper provider is issuing the credit. You will also need to provide what listing was incorrect so we may update our listings. (Note: You may request up to three credits each time you call.)

Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home or on your cell phone. You can register your home and mobile number at www.d o n o t c a l l . g o v o r by c a l l i n g 8 8 8 - 3 8 2 - 1 2 2 2 from the phone n u m b e r y o u wish to register.

Sundays 9pmCurb Your Enthusiasm

This season, as “single Larry” continues to navigate the LA dating scene, a faulty alibi ends up landing him in New York City for an extended stay - where he proves that faux-pas and character assassinations can occur just as easily in the Big Apple as in Hollywood.

Congratulations to the following employees for their years of loyalty and dedicated service

with Garden Valley.

25 years Jon Smith | Facilities & New Technologies Manager

20 years Sharon Hedlund | Service Representative

Taylor Bushelle of Plummer has been selected to receive a $2,000 scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year from the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation. Taylor is a Red Lake County Central High School graduate and will be attending the University of Minnesota. She is the daughter of Jesse Bushelle.

In awarding the scholarship to Taylor, CEO/GM Tim Brinkman said, “We’re happy to have this chance to make an investment in Taylor’s college education. Rural communities need educated and talented young people like Taylor to be our leaders of the future. It makes us all proud at Garden Valley when one of the statewide winners is selected from our area.”

The Foundation is part of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, a trade organization based in St. Paul representing over 44 telephone companies and cooperatives in the state.

Garden Valley Board President Jerry Freitag presents a certificate representing the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation award to Taylor Bushelle.

Taylor Bushelle to receive $2,000 Scholarship

Installer-Repairperson Mike Green has been promoted to the District Representative position for the Fosston, Lengby, and Winger exchanges.

Derek Lambert of Red Lake Falls has been selected to fill the District Representative position for the Red Lake Falls, St. Hilaire, and the east part of TRF exchanges.

Throughout the summer, Garden Valley displayed products and

services at our booth during the Red Lake County Fair, Polk County Fair, Pennington County Fair, and Clearwater County Fair. Fair booth

winners of the adult & child gift packages were Kelly Dahlen, Jacob

Lee, Sarah Anderson, Chesney Gunvangen, Hope Lundeen, Cierra

Olds, Betty Stiner, and Haven Salzer. (If you have not claimed your prize,

please contact Garden Valley by October 31. Prizes not claimed will be forfeited.)

Garden Valley also enjoyed participating in the following

community parades throughout the season: Brooks, Crookston, Erskine, Fertile, Gonvick, Grygla, Plummer,

Red Lake Falls, Shevlin, and Thief River Falls.

GV Participation in Area Fairs & Parades

Garden Valley, Your Technology Leader, is expanding operations by opening a store and business office in Bagley. The store will have technology products and services on display including GVTV, Security, Smart Home, Cellular, and Internet services, as well as provide new and existing subscribers the option to apply for new services, make changes to their account, pay their bill, or purchase various electronic items and accessories.

The store will officially open in October. A grand opening celebration with door prizes and special promotional offers is being planned for later in the month. The Bagley store hours will be Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Garden Valley welcomes everyone to come visit our new store location at 105 Main Avenue North. “We value being a part of the communities we serve. The new Bagley store gives us the opportunity to provide our members with even more accessibility to our employees and the technology we offer”, said Steve Olson, Service and Operations Manager.

Bagley StoreGarden Valley Education Foundation Awards School Technology GrantsThe Garden Valley Education Foundation recently presented $5,000 technology grants to four school districts in Garden Valley Telephone Company’s service area. The awarded schools plan to use the grants to purchase iMac computers, smart boards, an interactive projector, and a 3D printer. Garden Valley’s Education Foundation Technology Grant program promotes rural economic development through the use of modern telecommunications technology for educational purposes. Garden Valley is very proud of how the schools have looked for ways to improve the technology experience available for their students.

2018 Directory

COVER CONTEST

WINNERWe are happy to announce Leah Anderson of McIntosh as this year’s winner of the 2018 Directory Cover Contest. Leah was awarded fifty dollars cash prize for her dandelion photo taken near McIntosh.

We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to submit photos!

The 2018 Directory will be distributed after December 1 and extras will be available at our Erskine office.

Youth TourBryce Neubert and I (Joseph Parenteau) would like to thank Garden Valley and the FRS for giving us this amazing opportunity to visit the nation’s capital. Seeing all the sites and landmarks that have been there for years was truly surreal. We were split up early on when we arrived and accumulated a plethora of new friends from across the country. I am so grateful I was able to spend that week in D.C. learning and crossing things off of my bucket list. I am going to strongly urge every junior who is able to apply for this year’s 2018 Youth Tour to do so; you will meet so many new friends and have a blast as Bryce and I have.

Cooperatives invest in communities, build trust

and achieve a better tomorrow.

As a member of Garden Valley, you are part of

something special.

Thank you for your support.Together we are stronger!

STRONG | INDEPENDENT | SUPPORTIVE | MEMBER-OWNED

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Al Paulson present a check to Bagley

High School Industrial Technology Teacher Michael Malterud, Principal David Gouch and Superintendent Steve Cairns.

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Ron Engelstad are shown

presenting a check to Goodridge & Grygla School Superintendent Galen Clow.

Requires Expanded Basic with HD Programming. Restrictions may apply. Limited time offer. Call for details.

HD AccessFOR

NEW & EXISTING

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Jim Ferden present a check to

Win-E-Mac School Superintendent Randy Bruer.

New District Representatives

Part-Time Service Representative Tina Farrell has been promoted to fill the Full-Time Service Representative position in Erskine.

Part-Time Service Representative Heather Bauer has been promoted to the Full-Time Service Representative position in our new Bagley store.

New Full-Time Service Representatives

Watch it in HD on GVTV!6 MONTHS

F R E E6 MONTHS

F R E E

Opening

Soon!

CUSTOMERS

Billing InformationUniversal Service ChargeThe Federal Universal Service Fund Charge (FUSC) increased in October from $1.62 to $1.79 per line for most residential and single-line business customers and from $2.09 to $2.29 per access line for most multi-line business customers.

The new FUSC amount for cellular service is calculated by multiplying the FUSC factor against your cellular plan charges. Effective in October, that FUSC factor will increase from 6.3441% to 6.9748%.

Directory Assistance Credit If we are informed that you received incorrect Directory Assistance information for which a fee was charged, we will issue an immediate credit to your account. In order to receive credit:

• You must call the same dialing pattern when requesting credit.

Example: If you dialed 411 for your Directory Assistance, you must dial that same number to request the credit. This will ensure that the proper provider is issuing the credit. You will also need to provide what listing was incorrect so we may update our listings. (Note: You may request up to three credits each time you call.)

Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home or on your cell phone. You can register your home and mobile number at www.d o n o t c a l l . g o v o r by c a l l i n g 8 8 8 - 3 8 2 - 1 2 2 2 from the phone n u m b e r y o u wish to register.

Sundays 9pmCurb Your Enthusiasm

This season, as “single Larry” continues to navigate the LA dating scene, a faulty alibi ends up landing him in New York City for an extended stay - where he proves that faux-pas and character assassinations can occur just as easily in the Big Apple as in Hollywood.

Congratulations to the following employees for their years of loyalty and dedicated service

with Garden Valley.

25 years Jon Smith | Facilities & New Technologies Manager

20 years Sharon Hedlund | Service Representative

Taylor Bushelle of Plummer has been selected to receive a $2,000 scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year from the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation. Taylor is a Red Lake County Central High School graduate and will be attending the University of Minnesota. She is the daughter of Jesse Bushelle.

In awarding the scholarship to Taylor, CEO/GM Tim Brinkman said, “We’re happy to have this chance to make an investment in Taylor’s college education. Rural communities need educated and talented young people like Taylor to be our leaders of the future. It makes us all proud at Garden Valley when one of the statewide winners is selected from our area.”

The Foundation is part of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, a trade organization based in St. Paul representing over 44 telephone companies and cooperatives in the state.

Garden Valley Board President Jerry Freitag presents a certificate representing the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation award to Taylor Bushelle.

Taylor Bushelle to receive $2,000 Scholarship

Installer-Repairperson Mike Green has been promoted to the District Representative position for the Fosston, Lengby, and Winger exchanges.

Derek Lambert of Red Lake Falls has been selected to fill the District Representative position for the Red Lake Falls, St. Hilaire, and the east part of TRF exchanges.

Throughout the summer, Garden Valley displayed products and

services at our booth during the Red Lake County Fair, Polk County Fair, Pennington County Fair, and Clearwater County Fair. Fair booth

winners of the adult & child gift packages were Kelly Dahlen, Jacob

Lee, Sarah Anderson, Chesney Gunvangen, Hope Lundeen, Cierra

Olds, Betty Stiner, and Haven Salzer. (If you have not claimed your prize,

please contact Garden Valley by October 31. Prizes not claimed will be forfeited.)

Garden Valley also enjoyed participating in the following

community parades throughout the season: Brooks, Crookston, Erskine, Fertile, Gonvick, Grygla, Plummer,

Red Lake Falls, Shevlin, and Thief River Falls.

GV Participation in Area Fairs & Parades

Garden Valley, Your Technology Leader, is expanding operations by opening a store and business office in Bagley. The store will have technology products and services on display including GVTV, Security, Smart Home, Cellular, and Internet services, as well as provide new and existing subscribers the option to apply for new services, make changes to their account, pay their bill, or purchase various electronic items and accessories.

The store will officially open in October. A grand opening celebration with door prizes and special promotional offers is being planned for later in the month. The Bagley store hours will be Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Garden Valley welcomes everyone to come visit our new store location at 105 Main Avenue North. “We value being a part of the communities we serve. The new Bagley store gives us the opportunity to provide our members with even more accessibility to our employees and the technology we offer”, said Steve Olson, Service and Operations Manager.

Bagley StoreGarden Valley Education Foundation Awards School Technology GrantsThe Garden Valley Education Foundation recently presented $5,000 technology grants to four school districts in Garden Valley Telephone Company’s service area. The awarded schools plan to use the grants to purchase iMac computers, smart boards, an interactive projector, and a 3D printer. Garden Valley’s Education Foundation Technology Grant program promotes rural economic development through the use of modern telecommunications technology for educational purposes. Garden Valley is very proud of how the schools have looked for ways to improve the technology experience available for their students.

2018 Directory

COVER CONTEST

WINNERWe are happy to announce Leah Anderson of McIntosh as this year’s winner of the 2018 Directory Cover Contest. Leah was awarded fifty dollars cash prize for her dandelion photo taken near McIntosh.

We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to submit photos!

The 2018 Directory will be distributed after December 1 and extras will be available at our Erskine office.

Youth TourBryce Neubert and I (Joseph Parenteau) would like to thank Garden Valley and the FRS for giving us this amazing opportunity to visit the nation’s capital. Seeing all the sites and landmarks that have been there for years was truly surreal. We were split up early on when we arrived and accumulated a plethora of new friends from across the country. I am so grateful I was able to spend that week in D.C. learning and crossing things off of my bucket list. I am going to strongly urge every junior who is able to apply for this year’s 2018 Youth Tour to do so; you will meet so many new friends and have a blast as Bryce and I have.

Cooperatives invest in communities, build trust

and achieve a better tomorrow.

As a member of Garden Valley, you are part of

something special.

Thank you for your support.Together we are stronger!

STRONG | INDEPENDENT | SUPPORTIVE | MEMBER-OWNED

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Al Paulson present a check to Bagley

High School Industrial Technology Teacher Michael Malterud, Principal David Gouch and Superintendent Steve Cairns.

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Ron Engelstad are shown

presenting a check to Goodridge & Grygla School Superintendent Galen Clow.

Requires Expanded Basic with HD Programming. Restrictions may apply. Limited time offer. Call for details.

HD AccessFOR

NEW & EXISTING

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Jim Ferden present a check to

Win-E-Mac School Superintendent Randy Bruer.

New District Representatives

Part-Time Service Representative Tina Farrell has been promoted to fill the Full-Time Service Representative position in Erskine.

Part-Time Service Representative Heather Bauer has been promoted to the Full-Time Service Representative position in our new Bagley store.

New Full-Time Service Representatives

Watch it in HD on GVTV!6 MONTHS

F R E E6 MONTHS

F R E E

Opening

Soon!

CUSTOMERS

Billing InformationUniversal Service ChargeThe Federal Universal Service Fund Charge (FUSC) increased in October from $1.62 to $1.79 per line for most residential and single-line business customers and from $2.09 to $2.29 per access line for most multi-line business customers.

The new FUSC amount for cellular service is calculated by multiplying the FUSC factor against your cellular plan charges. Effective in October, that FUSC factor will increase from 6.3441% to 6.9748%.

Directory Assistance Credit If we are informed that you received incorrect Directory Assistance information for which a fee was charged, we will issue an immediate credit to your account. In order to receive credit:

• You must call the same dialing pattern when requesting credit.

Example: If you dialed 411 for your Directory Assistance, you must dial that same number to request the credit. This will ensure that the proper provider is issuing the credit. You will also need to provide what listing was incorrect so we may update our listings. (Note: You may request up to three credits each time you call.)

Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home or on your cell phone. You can register your home and mobile number at www.d o n o t c a l l . g o v o r by c a l l i n g 8 8 8 - 3 8 2 - 1 2 2 2 from the phone n u m b e r y o u wish to register.

Sundays 9pmCurb Your Enthusiasm

This season, as “single Larry” continues to navigate the LA dating scene, a faulty alibi ends up landing him in New York City for an extended stay - where he proves that faux-pas and character assassinations can occur just as easily in the Big Apple as in Hollywood.

Congratulations to the following employees for their years of loyalty and dedicated service

with Garden Valley.

25 years Jon Smith | Facilities & New Technologies Manager

20 years Sharon Hedlund | Service Representative

Taylor Bushelle of Plummer has been selected to receive a $2,000 scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year from the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation. Taylor is a Red Lake County Central High School graduate and will be attending the University of Minnesota. She is the daughter of Jesse Bushelle.

In awarding the scholarship to Taylor, CEO/GM Tim Brinkman said, “We’re happy to have this chance to make an investment in Taylor’s college education. Rural communities need educated and talented young people like Taylor to be our leaders of the future. It makes us all proud at Garden Valley when one of the statewide winners is selected from our area.”

The Foundation is part of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, a trade organization based in St. Paul representing over 44 telephone companies and cooperatives in the state.

Garden Valley Board President Jerry Freitag presents a certificate representing the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation award to Taylor Bushelle.

Taylor Bushelle to receive $2,000 Scholarship

Installer-Repairperson Mike Green has been promoted to the District Representative position for the Fosston, Lengby, and Winger exchanges.

Derek Lambert of Red Lake Falls has been selected to fill the District Representative position for the Red Lake Falls, St. Hilaire, and the east part of TRF exchanges.

Throughout the summer, Garden Valley displayed products and

services at our booth during the Red Lake County Fair, Polk County Fair, Pennington County Fair, and Clearwater County Fair. Fair booth

winners of the adult & child gift packages were Kelly Dahlen, Jacob

Lee, Sarah Anderson, Chesney Gunvangen, Hope Lundeen, Cierra

Olds, Betty Stiner, and Haven Salzer. (If you have not claimed your prize,

please contact Garden Valley by October 31. Prizes not claimed will be forfeited.)

Garden Valley also enjoyed participating in the following

community parades throughout the season: Brooks, Crookston, Erskine, Fertile, Gonvick, Grygla, Plummer,

Red Lake Falls, Shevlin, and Thief River Falls.

GV Participation in Area Fairs & Parades

Garden Valley, Your Technology Leader, is expanding operations by opening a store and business office in Bagley. The store will have technology products and services on display including GVTV, Security, Smart Home, Cellular, and Internet services, as well as provide new and existing subscribers the option to apply for new services, make changes to their account, pay their bill, or purchase various electronic items and accessories.

The store will officially open in October. A grand opening celebration with door prizes and special promotional offers is being planned for later in the month. The Bagley store hours will be Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Garden Valley welcomes everyone to come visit our new store location at 105 Main Avenue North. “We value being a part of the communities we serve. The new Bagley store gives us the opportunity to provide our members with even more accessibility to our employees and the technology we offer”, said Steve Olson, Service and Operations Manager.

Bagley StoreGarden Valley Education Foundation Awards School Technology GrantsThe Garden Valley Education Foundation recently presented $5,000 technology grants to four school districts in Garden Valley Telephone Company’s service area. The awarded schools plan to use the grants to purchase iMac computers, smart boards, an interactive projector, and a 3D printer. Garden Valley’s Education Foundation Technology Grant program promotes rural economic development through the use of modern telecommunications technology for educational purposes. Garden Valley is very proud of how the schools have looked for ways to improve the technology experience available for their students.

2018 Directory

COVER CONTEST

WINNERWe are happy to announce Leah Anderson of McIntosh as this year’s winner of the 2018 Directory Cover Contest. Leah was awarded fifty dollars cash prize for her dandelion photo taken near McIntosh.

We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to submit photos!

The 2018 Directory will be distributed after December 1 and extras will be available at our Erskine office.

Youth TourBryce Neubert and I (Joseph Parenteau) would like to thank Garden Valley and the FRS for giving us this amazing opportunity to visit the nation’s capital. Seeing all the sites and landmarks that have been there for years was truly surreal. We were split up early on when we arrived and accumulated a plethora of new friends from across the country. I am so grateful I was able to spend that week in D.C. learning and crossing things off of my bucket list. I am going to strongly urge every junior who is able to apply for this year’s 2018 Youth Tour to do so; you will meet so many new friends and have a blast as Bryce and I have.

Cooperatives invest in communities, build trust

and achieve a better tomorrow.

As a member of Garden Valley, you are part of

something special.

Thank you for your support.Together we are stronger!

STRONG | INDEPENDENT | SUPPORTIVE | MEMBER-OWNED

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Al Paulson present a check to Bagley

High School Industrial Technology Teacher Michael Malterud, Principal David Gouch and Superintendent Steve Cairns.

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Ron Engelstad are shown

presenting a check to Goodridge & Grygla School Superintendent Galen Clow.

Requires Expanded Basic with HD Programming. Restrictions may apply. Limited time offer. Call for details.

HD AccessFOR

NEW & EXISTING

Garden Valley CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman and Garden Valley Director Jim Ferden present a check to

Win-E-Mac School Superintendent Randy Bruer.

New District Representatives

Part-Time Service Representative Tina Farrell has been promoted to fill the Full-Time Service Representative position in Erskine.

Part-Time Service Representative Heather Bauer has been promoted to the Full-Time Service Representative position in our new Bagley store.

New Full-Time Service Representatives

Watch it in HD on GVTV!6 MONTHS

F R E E6 MONTHS

F R E E

Opening

Soon!

CUSTOMERS

Office HoursErskine: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Bagley: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 6:00pm(coming soon)

Company Telephone Numbers

Service Center 24/7/365800-448-8260, 218-687-5251, or888-879-4968 (GV Long Distance)

Business Office or Service Requests218-687-5251 | 800-448-8260

Radio Shack Sales Center218-687-3233

Gopher State One-Call800-252-1166 811 (call toll-free before digging)

GV InternetEmail: helpdesk@gvtel.comWebsite: www.gvtel.com

Internet Support 24/7/365877-546-7495

Internet Remote Supportsupport.gvtel.comMonday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Live Chat (with a Service Representative)www.gvtel.com

Board of DirectorsJerry Freitag, President | Plummer

Byron Ness, Vice President | Fertile

Arlene Novak, Secretary | St. Hilaire

James Ferden, Treasurer | McIntosh

Ronald Engelstad, Director | Grygla

Vernon Hamnes, Director | Gonvick

Lee Hoaas, Director | Erskine

Casey Holland, Director | Fosston

Allen Paulson, Director | Shevlin

Published by Garden Valley Telephone Company

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

VOICEValley

Garden ValleyYour Technology Leader

201 Ross Avenue | PO Box 259Erskine, MN 56535

VOICE of th

e

Valley

Border-to-Border GroundbreakingBagley Store Opening Soon Annual NoticeDirectory Cover Winner

THIS ISSUE:

News & EventsHoliday Office ClosingGV business offices will be closed November 23 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Save-The-Date Garden Valley Appreciation Day in Erskine, Saturday, December 28:30am - 2:30pm Watch for the Grand Prize Coupon in your bill.

Website CompassVisit this valuable resource on our website to find Internet related info, tips, trends, and more at www.gvtel.com/internet

Sale of Items GV’s sale of used vehicles and misc. items will be posted in area newspapers this fall. Items can be viewed November 6 thru November 15. Bids must be submitted by noon on the 15th.

Rural TRF Border-to-Border Groundbreaking EventGarden Valley held a groundbreaking event to celebrate the beginning of the work on the Minnesota Broadband Grant Program project in rural Thief River Falls. Construction on this $4.2 million dollar project began in late June on the main line fiber optic cable with service installation to the homes beginning in early 2018.

The border-to-border broadband grant project for rural Thief River Falls will offer access to local phone service, Internet speeds up to 1 Gigabit, and digital video services to almost 400 unserved households and businesses. A map of the project area can be found on Garden Valley’s website at www.gvtel.com.

Those who attended the event listened to several special speakers, including

Representative Deb Kiel, Senator Mark Johnson, Danna MacKenzie from the Office of Broadband, and Andy Martin, a representative for Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Tim Brinkman, CEO/General Manager for Garden Valley Telephone Company, thanked the Office of Broadband for helping Garden Valley service the unserved residents of rural Thief River Falls. He also thanked legislators for their support.

Garden Valley is excited to be included as one of the projects receiving a grant to service the residents of rural Thief River Falls. This fiber to the home project is just another example of how Garden Valley and its employees are dedicated to providing you, our customers, with reliable service.

Garden ValleyYour Technology LeaderOctober 2017 | Volume 67 | No. 5

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This offer is available to new or existing subscribers who activate the Simple Shared Plans with an eligible 4G device and sign up with the EXTRA Device Installment Program at the promotional rate per month for 12 months and another 12 months at the current device rate per month.

Certain restrictions apply. Limited time offer. Call for details.

Smartphones Starting at

GV Cellular is of feringUNLIMITED DATA!

Sign up today!

$499 for the first 12 months

/ m o

Groundbreaking Ceremony: (left to right) Senator Mark Johnson, GV Director Ron Engelstad, Representative Deb Kiel, Minnesota Telecom Alliance President/CEO Brent Christensen, GV Board President Jerry Freitag, CEO/General Manager Tim Brinkman, Danna MacKenzie of the Minnesota Office of Broadband, and Andy Martin, representing Senator Amy Klobuchar.

You may be eligible for assistance in paying your telephone bill if you receive benefits from certain low-income assistance programs. For more information or an application form, call toll free 888-830-6393. (Note: This information is subject to change without advance notice.)

Minnesota’s Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP) offers a monthly credit of $3.50 on your landline telephone service plan. You may receive the TAP credit on one landline per household.

The federal Lifeline Program offers a monthly discount of $9.25 on some landline telephone service plans. Lifeline also offers discounts on some wireless telephone service plans and some broadband Internet service plans. You may receive the Lifeline discount on one telephone service per household.

The federal Lifeline Program incorporates the broadband discount (not applicable to TAP).

If you live on Tribal lands, you may qualify for additional discounts. Tribal Lands Link-Up offers a one-time credit of up to $100 on installation or activation charges. Tribal Lands Lifeline offers a monthly credit of up to $34.25 on your landline or wireless telephone service plan.

The telephone or broadband service must be in your name. You must show proof that you or a member of your household participates in at least one of the following programs or is income eligible:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance• Food Support/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)• Medicaid/Medical Assistance• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)• Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension Benefit• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance and living on Tribal lands• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and living on Tribal lands• Tribally Administered Head Start (for those meeting income-qualifying standards) and living on Tribal lands• Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF) and living on Tribal lands

If you do not participate in any of the programs listed above, you may qualify if your income is at or below 135% of the 2017 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines: (The federal poverty guidelines are typically updated at the end of January.)

Household Size Income

1 $16,281

2 $21,924

3 $27,567

4 $32,210

5 $38,853

6 $44,496

7 $50,139

8 $55,782

For each additional person, add $5,643

For more information and to request an application, call toll free 888-830-6393.

Adaptive Telephone Equipment Available to Eligible MembersThe Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program provides telephone equipment to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or have a physical disability and need adaptive equipment in order to use the phone. The equipment is loaned out at no cost as a long-term loan. Available equipment includes captioned phones, light flashing ring signalers, TTYs, amplified telephones, loud ringers, hands-free speakerphones and more. Minnesotans eligible for the Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program can get a variety of equipment at no charge through statewide regional offices. The office serving our area is in Moorhead, Minnesota.

For more information or to request an application, call Garden Valley Telephone Company at 800-448-8260; e-mail dhhs.moorhead@state.mn.us; or call the TED Specialist at 800-456-7589 or TTY 866-488-3829.

Toll Limitation ServiceToll Limitation Service support allows eligible consumers who wish to avoid incurring large long distance fees to choose toll blocking at no cost.

Annual Notice to Residential CustomersTelephone Assistance Programs